The 10th digit of the VIN is the date code. A-80 B-81 C-82 D-83 E-84 F-85 G-86 H-87 J-88 K-89 L-90 M-91 N-92 P-93 R-94 S-95 T-96 V-97 W-98 X-99 Y-00 1-01 2-02 3-03 4-04 5-05 6-06 7-07 This list has always worked for me. The Manufactured date is not always the same as the model year. I think it was late 1995 when Ford changed body styles and called it a 1997.